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USC Morning Buzz: Was Securing No. 1 Recruiting Class Too Important?

Before the season, I said to expect a handful of true freshman to contribute in a meaningful way: Luke Wafle, Trent Mosley, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.

Then you have a few others who play in games like Elbert Hill and Ryan Wormley.

This is why GM Chad Bowden should have signed more transfers. USC did not go all-out to get a linebacker or another cornerback. It needed 3-4 more defensive players.

Did Bowden and Co. become so enamored with securing the No. 1 recruiting class that it didn’t want to sacrifice a few freshmen for some impact transfers.

The other thing is quite of a few of the other freshmen are not playing at all. How many of them will jump into the transfer portal after the season? It’s definitely going to be something to monitor.

  • Several fans told me they did not notice the juice boxes at Saturday’s game until they got carried away afterward.
  • In case you wondered, Rob Ryan spends games in the pressbox, just like Gary Patterson did on Saturday.

36 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Was Securing No. 1 Recruiting Class Too Important?”

  2. DON: These high school hotshots need some seasoning at the college level

    KAM: By 2027 SC should have them up to speed but will it be enough to keep Wiley as the coach?

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  3. Thanks for showing the photo of the juice boxes, I missed them thankfully during the game. They are what you would call a public swing and miss. The idea probably sounded good on paper, but in reality looks cheap. Keep the juice boxes in the refrigerator. The players need to be taught to win with class and like winning is not unusual. Great coaches instill confidence not theatrics in their players; they help them become professional at their craft. What do all of the assistant coaches do on the sidelines during games….how about an analysis. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  4. “We just kind of had like a whatever-it’s-gonna-take attitude,” Riley said, “and that’s what it took.”

    “We got a heck of a defensive staff and I think it’s kind of like players, right?” Riley said. “You’re trying to just move the chess pieces to put everybody in the right position to get the best out of them. And I thought our coaches on the field did a great job. I thought Gary called a really good game and the players responded.”

    “Sometimes these gutsy wins when you maybe don’t have quite your ‘A’ game,” Riley said, “they can sometimes do something for you maybe that even a blowout win can’t do. So we’ve got to take the positives from it. And I think this team will carry a lot of momentum into this next game.”

    Riley post game.

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  5. KAM: Northwestern went for over 400-yards against Penn St. If SC only does half that they should win

    DON: What occurred in a prior game often does not carry over into the next game

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    1. I’m pretty sure that Penn State will work to improve their run defense this week in practice —but how much can they improve in a week? against better running backs?….

      #btw,JaydenNeedsToHelpThemOutThisWeek…

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  6. KAM: Penn St’s Coach Franklin got fired because he couldn’t win the big games

    DON: Now they have a coach who can’t win the little games

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    2. Actually Penn. State’s first year coach is superb (and previously mentioned for many large program openings) … but in the changed environment surrounding university-affiliated AAA minor league football (once known as NCAA FBS or Division 1) … he filled out a roster with a lot of his Iowa State transfers … bet in year 5 he’ll be doing more than making excuses (a la Miley Coyote) … but I would not bet that he will surpass Franklin’s record (he might, but he very well might not, as beating Ohio State and/or whatever other even stronger programs is never a good bet) …

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      1. PSU’s coach is overrated, he came from the same mickey mouse conference as Riley. PSU probably could have had Chesney, but went big splash instead of little, not going to pay off for them, they can hire Chesney away from ucla in a few years.

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      2. Campbell is nothing like Riley (just because he came from the Big 12 – as if conference affiliations are meaningful in this day and age). He ran a highly competitive program with Iowa State recruiting capabilities. UCLA’s coach at this point is the flavor of the moment … so was Toledo, Dorrell, Neuheisel, Mora, Jr., Chipper … we’ll see how long it lasts.

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      4. Campbell coached an Iowa State team to crush Oregon in a Fiesta Bowl … two years ago he was one late season upset from playing for a playoff birth … I’ll take him over Miley, anything in blue and gold ever (not named Vermeil), and Franklin, combined … and the Big 12 this year is probably better than the Big 10 (false logic to use one game to make a point, but Oklahoma State’s dismantling of the Ducks certainly is strong evidence).

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      5. Lol, that same year he opened by losing to Louisiana and Oregon was ranked 25th, not exactly a big deal.

        Guy is overrated

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      6. Your logic is impeccably flawed. Could care less where a team starts (as USC has demonstrated repeatedly over the last two decades). It’s where they finish. The totality. Great coach. Five games in. You hate admitting you don’t know everything and are always an emotional flinch responder (as well as constantly negative towards everyone else). But you are without a doubt extremely smart. Just need a little maturity. Which is peculiar, given how long ago you have stated on the site that you had season tickets to USC games. Last word – to square the circle in closing. Pete started 9-8 at USC. After a so-so tenure as the Patriots coach.

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    2. The very sight of Ryan conveys the concepts of “discipline” and “work ethic” to the team….

      #GetThisManToLincoln’sSkiPantsStore

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  8. Scooter,

    I was in Las Vegas for my nephew’s wedding. I did not see the game. However, i made two $10.00 bets takig SC and 7.5 points. I needed SC to win by 8. Just plain and simple, fire Riley for costing me $20.oo and believing that SC would cover the spreaad.

    SC will lose to Penn St. by 5

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  9. Pointspreads are a good indicator of coaching prowess. So far, USC has only covered once, at home, against Fresno State. The average underperformance against the spread is just over 8 points. The current line on the Penn State game has USC as the underdog by 1.5 points. If the math holds, that means USC drops that game by 10. The secret is out now, particularly with Las Vegas. The Trojans are a soft, undisciplined, and poorly led aggregation of juice boxers and towel wavers. They particularly underperform on the road. All in all, a sad state of affairs for USC football.

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    1. IF [BIG IF] USC performs at 100% efficiency and Penn State performs at 100% efficiency, USC wins. Implicit premise: Coaching matters. It’s time for Riley to FINALLY prove he’s what we thought he was.

      #FightOn!

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  10. KAM: As bad as it for SC it is worse at Penn St. They are even discussing firing the coach after one season despite his $62-million buyout

    DON: Wiley’s buyout is about the same. I guess this is the “Buyout Game”

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